| Releases
& Statements
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
June 8, 2009
Contact: Sarah Krauss
(212) 669-4193; (917) 541-0936
Statement from Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum on Departure of Special Education Official from DOE
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said,
"I'm not surprised to learn that Garth Harries will be moving on after a very brief stint in a newly created special education position; we've come to expect this kind of inconsistency from the DOE.
I respect the DOE for recognizing a need to address ongoing problems in the special education system, but I believe this was a last-ditch effort to respond to these problems during an election year. Instead of effectively focusing on improving special education over the last seven years, the DOE decided to bring someone in with no special education background to revamp the system in six months.
I look forward to seeing the results and recommendations of Mr. Harries' report, but what is more important is that the DOE fill special education positions with individuals who have relevant backgrounds and are committed to staying until the job is done."
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